MRI scan – East Kent Hospitals University NOT LIVE
1 in 2 (51.7%)
people on the MRI scan waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (12,727 waiting).
Official monthly figure, end of Aug 2026 · published 8 October 2026 · NHS England
Diagnostics (DM01) data for August 2026, published 8 October 2026
MRI scan waiting times in Canterbury
How long people are waiting for an MRI scan at the hospital trust serving Canterbury, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Canterbury: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest East Kent Hospitals University hospital: Kent & Canterbury Hospital (CT1 3NG), under a mile from central Canterbury.
- Usually referred to: patients in Canterbury are usually referred to East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the nearest major hospital. Your GP or referrer can tell you where you would go.
- Nearest community diagnostic centre doing MRI scans: Buckland Community Hospital CDC (CT17 0HD), about 14 miles away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS Kent and Medway ICB.
- A nearby alternative: Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, about 24 miles away, where 99.0% of its MRI scan list had waited under 6 weeks at the end of Aug 2026.
What is an MRI scan?
An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan uses strong magnets and radio waves to make detailed pictures of organs, joints, the brain and spine. It does not use X-rays.
MRI scan waiting list at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
51.7%waiting under 6 weeks
12,727people on the MRI waiting list
6,144waiting 6 weeks or more
863waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 12,727 people were waiting for an MRI scan at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust. 51.7% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 26.3 points below the England figure of 78.0% and 25.7 points below the South East figure of 77.4%. 863 people (6.8%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the MRI scan list had waited
East Kent Hospitals University: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 51.7% | 12,727 | 78.0% |
| July 2026 | 52.4% | 13,102 | 78.6% |
| June 2026 | 54.0% | 13,059 | 77.7% |
| May 2026 | 59.2% | 12,455 | 76.9% |
| April 2026 | 59.2% | 12,192 | 75.5% |
| March 2026 | 68.2% | 12,238 | 78.4% |
| February 2026 | 74.2% | 11,517 | 80.0% |
How Canterbury compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust | 51.7% | 12,727 | 863 |
| South East region | 77.4% | 54,655 | 2,547 |
| England | 78.0% | 357,356 | 16,345 |
Nearby hospital trusts for MRI scans
Trusts serving neighbouring towns, ordered by the share of their list waiting under 6 weeks. In England you can usually ask your GP which hospitals you could be referred to; waiting lists change from month to month.
| Trust | Distance (town) | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust | about 39 miles | 100.0% | 846 | 0 |
| Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | about 53 miles | 100.0% | 1,322 | 0 |
| Croydon Health Services NHS Trust | about 51 miles | 99.2% | 1,984 | 1 |
| Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust | about 24 miles | 99.0% | 1,526 | 0 |
| Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust | about 48 miles | 96.9% | 1,482 | 24 |
| East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | about 37 miles | 93.6% | 2,030 | 16 |
| University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | about 54 miles | 92.5% | 2,755 | 56 |
| Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust | about 56 miles | 84.4% | 5,227 | 23 |
| Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust | about 55 miles | 82.3% | 4,902 | 31 |
| Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | about 55 miles | 82.0% | 2,711 | 7 |
| University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 56 miles | 72.2% | 6,544 | 312 |
MRI scan waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | MRI under 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashford | 13 miles | East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust | 51.7% | 12,727 |
| Maidstone | 24 miles | Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust | 99.0% | 1,526 |
| Hastings | 37 miles | East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | 93.6% | 2,030 |
| Dartford | 39 miles | Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust | 100.0% | 846 |
| Greenwich | 48 miles | Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust | 96.9% | 1,482 |
| Eastbourne | 50 miles | East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | 93.6% | 2,030 |
| Croydon | 51 miles | Croydon Health Services NHS Trust | 99.2% | 1,984 |
| Hackney | 53 miles | Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 100.0% | 1,322 |
More for Canterbury: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Canterbury · CT scan waiting times in Canterbury · Ultrasound waiting times in Canterbury · Endoscopy waiting times in Canterbury. National picture: MRI scan waiting times in England.
Understanding the 6-week figure
NHS England counts everyone on the waiting list for a test at the end of each month and how many weeks they have waited since referral. The standard is that fewer than 1% of patients wait 6 weeks or more. Urgent referrals, including suspected cancer, are usually prioritised, so routine waits can be longer than the average suggests. If your wait is much longer than you were told, contact the hospital’s booking team or the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS).
Frequently asked questions
How long is the wait for an MRI scan in Canterbury?
At the end of August 2026, 51.7% of the 12,727 people waiting for an MRI scan at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 863 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.0% under 6 weeks.
Are MRI scan waits in Canterbury getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust was 74.2% in February 2026 and 51.7% in August 2026, down 22.5 points.
Can I have my MRI scan somewhere else?
In England you can usually discuss with your GP or the referring clinician which hospitals or community diagnostic centres you could be referred to. Waiting times at nearby trusts are listed on this page as a starting point. The nearest community diagnostic centre recording MRI scans in NHS England’s Aug 2026 data is Buckland Community Hospital CDC, about 14 miles from Canterbury.
How often are these figures updated?
NHS England publishes A&E, diagnostics (DM01) and referral to treatment (RTT) statistics every month, usually on the second Thursday. A&E figures cover the previous month; diagnostics and RTT figures are a month further behind. This site refreshes when new files are published.